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¹ Now I Paul myself beseech you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence [am] base among you, but being absent am bold towards you:² But I beseech [you], that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, with which I think to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh:⁴ (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)⁵ Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;⁶ And having in a readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

⁷ Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trusteth to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he [is] Christ's, even so [are] we Christ's.⁸ For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:⁹ That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.¹⁰ For [his] letters (say they) [are] weighty and powerful; but [his] bodily presence [is] weak, and [his] speech contemptible.¹¹ Let such one think this, that such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such [will we be] also in deed when we are present.

¹² For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.¹³ But we will not boast of things without [our] measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even to you.¹⁴ For we stretch not ourselves beyond [our measure], as though we reached not to you; for we are come as far as to you also in [preaching] the gospel of Christ:¹⁵ Not boasting of things without [our] measure, [that is], of other men's labors; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you, according to our rule abundantly,¹⁶ To preach the gospel in the [regions] beyond you, [and] not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.¹⁷ But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.¹⁸ For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.